Minami Takahashi (高橋 みなみ, Takahashi Minami, born 8 April 1991) is a Japanese idol, singer, tarento and a former member of the Japanese girl idol group AKB48. She is in Team A of AKB48. She became the first General Director (総監督, sōkantoku) of AKB48 and its sister groups.[2] In an interview with Nippon Television in June 2010, AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto says she is the "eldest daughter of the 48 sisters".[3] She is also regarded as "soul of AKB",[4] and her motto "Making efforts will be paid" has inspired many members of AKB48.[5] She is commonly part of the main lineup of AKB48 singles. She was a member of the AKB48 sub-group no3b, alongside fellow AKB48 graduates Minami Minegishi and Haruna Kojima. She has a business alliance with Mama&Son Inc.[6]

Minami Takahashi
高橋 みなみ
Minami Takahashi performing at the Anime Expo AKB48 live in Los Angeles, 2010.
Born (1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 33)
Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan[1]
Other namesTakamina
Occupations
Years active2005–present
Agent(s)Production Ogi, Mama&Son
Height148 cm (4 ft 10 in)
Spouse
Unknown
(m. 2019)
Musical career
GenresJ-pop
InstrumentVocals
Labels
Formerly of

Career

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Takahashi was born in Hachiōji, Tokyo. In August 2005, she became one of the 30th HoriPro Talent Contest's 15 final candidates, but she did not win the competition's Grand-Prix prize. In October 2005, she participated in the first AKB48 audition and beat 7,924 other applicants to be chosen as one of the 24 founding members of the group. According to Tomonobu Togasaki, the manager of the AKB48 Theater, she had two unofficial advantages going for her, in that both her birthday (8 April; 1991-04-08) and her height (148 cm) contain the number "48".[7] She debuted with Team A on 8 December 2005.[8][9]

In 2008, no3b members, including Takahashi, appeared in the TV Tokyo drama Men Dol. She starred as Nami/Kai in this television series.[10]

On 23 August 2009, Takahashi was officially announced as the captain of AKB48's Team A.[citation needed]

Three years later, on 24 August 2012, with Mariko Shinoda replacing her as the captain of Team A, Minami Takahashi was promoted to be the General Director of the entire AKB48 enterprise, including all sister groups.[11]

Takahashi appears regularly in the AKB48 singles as one of the group's key singers. In addition, Minami frequently represents AKB48 on TV programs such as Music Station, and in other of the group's publicity events.[12] She was also scheduled to take part in the AKB48's 3-day live concert event titled "Takamina ni tsuite ikimasu" (たかみなについて行きます, lit. "We will follow Takamina"), which was to have been held on 25–27 March 2011 at the Yokohama Arena but was cancelled due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[13]

 
Minami Takahashi at the opening ceremony for the 4th annual Tokyo Detention House Exhibition, October 2015.

On 25 August 2012, the second day of AKB48 Tokyo Dome Concert, it was announced by Max Hole that Takahashi would make her solo debut with the company, through its Nayutawave Records label.[14][15] The single, titled "Jane Doe", was released on 3 April 2013. It is the opening theme song for the Fuji Television TV drama Saki, which stars Yukie Nakama.[16] She also released the single "Hito no Tobira" for the 2013 film The Smurfs 2 in which she provides the Japanese voice of Smurfette. [17]

On 8 December 2014, the 9th Anniversary of AKB48 Theater, it was confirmed by Takahashi herself that she would officially leave AKB48 exactly one year later, or 8 December 2015, the 10th Anniversary of the AKB48 Theater. Yui Yokoyama will then succeed her job as the General Director of AKB48.[18]

On 25 October 2015, during the handshake and autograph event at Pacific Yokohama had announced the details of AKB48's 42nd Single and Request Hour 2016. The 42nd Single will be released on 9 December 2015. She will be the Center which will be her final appearance on an AKB48 single.[19]

On 26 to 27 March 2016, her graduation concert titled "Congratulation Takahashi Minami Graduation "148.5 cm Have Seen a Dream" in Yokohama Stadium" was held at Yokohama Stadium, with her last theater performance on 8 April 2016.[20]

On 8 April 2017, Takahshi held her own birthday party titled "Minami Takahashi 26th Birthday Live 2017❤︎199104080127❤︎26❤︎" with the members of no3b reunited.[21]

Since her graduation, Takahashi has been hosting her own radio show "Takahashi Minami no [Korekara Nanisuru?]" (Takahashi Minami's "What are you going to do now?") on Tokyo FM airing every Monday-Thursday at 1:00 p.m. to 2:55 pm,[22] as well as having a solo singer career.

Personal life

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On 1 May 2019, Takahashi announced her marriage to a non-celebrity man 15 years her senior.[23]

AKB48 general elections

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  • Ranked 5th in the 2009 general election
  • Ranked 6th in the 2010 general election
  • Ranked 7th in the 2011 general election
  • Ranked 6th in the 2012 general election
  • Ranked 8th in the 2013 general election
  • Ranked 9th in the 2014 general election
  • Ranked 4th in the 2015 general election

Discography

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Solo singles

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Year Title Chart position Oricon sales[24]
Oricon Weekly
Singles Chart[24]
Billboard Japan
Hot 100[25]
First
week
Total*
2013 "Jane Doe" 2 1 85,493 103,066
2017 "Kodoku wa Kizutsukanai"

* Unofficial figure obtained by adding together Oricon sales numbers for different periods of time when the single charted on Oricon.

Solo albums

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Year Title Chart position
Oricon Weekly
Singles Chart[24]
Billboard Japan
Hot 100[25]
2016 "Aishi Te mo Ii Desu ka?" (愛してもいいですか?) 9[26]  

Singles with AKB48

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Year No. Title Role[27] Notes
2006 Ind-1 "Sakura no Hanabiratachi" A-side, Center
Ind-2 "Skirt, Hirari" A-side, Center
1 "Aitakatta" A-side, Center
2007 2 "Seifuku ga Jama o Suru" A-side, Center
3 "Keibetsu Shiteita Aijō" A-side, Center
4 "Bingo!" A-side, Center
5 "Boku no Taiyō" A-side
6 "Yūhi o Miteiru ka?" A-side
2008 7 "Romance, Irane" A-side
8 "Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008" A-side, Center
9 "Baby! Baby! Baby!" A-side
10 "Ōgoe Diamond" A-side
2009 11 "10nen Sakura" A-side Also sang on "Sakurairo no Sora no Shita de".
12 "Namida Surprise!" A-side
13 "Iiwake Maybe" A-side Ranked 5th in 2009 General Election
14 "River" A-side, Center
2010 15 "Sakura no Shiori" A-side Also sang on "Majisuka Rock 'n' Roll".
16 "Ponytail to Shushu" A-side, Center Also sang on "Majijo Teppen Blues"
17 "Heavy Rotation" A-side Ranked 6th in 2010 General Election. Also sang on "Yasai Sisters" and "Lucky Seven".
18 "Beginner" A-side
19 "Chance no Junban" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament.[28] Sang on "Yoyakushita Christmas"; and "Kurumi to Dialogue" as Team A.
2011 20 "Sakura no Ki ni Narō" A-side
"Dareka no Tame ni – What can I do for someone?" charity single
21 "Everyday, Katyusha" A-side Also sang on "Korekara Wonderland" and "Yankee Soul".
22 "Flying Get" A-side Ranked 7th in 2011 General Election. Also sang on "Ice no Kuchizuke".
23 "Kaze wa Fuiteiru" A-side
24 "Ue kara Mariko" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament;[29][30] She sang on "Noël no Yoru"; and on "Rinjin wa Kizutsukanai" as Team A.[citation needed]
2012 25 "Give Me Five!" A-side (Baby Blossom), Selection 6 Played lead guitar in Baby Blossom; She also sang "Sweet & Bitter" as part of Selection 6.
26 "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" A-side Also sang on "Chōdai, Darling!".
27 "Gingham Check" A-side Ranked 6th in 2012 General Election. Also sang on "Yume no Kawa".
28 "Uza" A-side Also sang on "Kodoku na Hoshizora" as New Team A.
29 "Eien Pressure" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Totteoki Christmas".
2013 30 "So Long!" A-side Sang on "Ruby" as Team A.
"Tenohira ga Kataru Koto" charity single
31 "Sayonara Crawl" A-side
32 "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" A-side Ranked 8th in 2013 General Election.[31]
33 "Heart Electric" A-side Nicknamed Linda. She also sang "Kiss made Countdown" as Team A.
34 "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Mosh & Dive" and "Party is over".
2014 35 "Mae Shika Mukanee" A-side
36 "Labrador Retriever" A-side
37 Kokoro no Placard A-side Ranked 9th in 2014 General Election.
38 "Kibouteki Refrain" A-side
2015 39 "Green Flash" A-side Raps in this song with Sayaka Yamamoto.[32] Also sang "Majisuka Fight", "Haru no Hikari Chikadzuita Natsu" and "Hakimono to Kasa no Monogatari".
40 "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" A-side Also sang "Deai no Hi, Wakare no Hi" & "Kimi no Dai Ni Shō" & "Barebare Bushi"
41 "Halloween Night" A-side Ranked 4th in 2015 General Election. Also sang "Ippome Ondo" "Yankee Machine Gun" & "Gunzou"
42 "Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby" A-side, Center Also sang "365 Nichi no Kamihikōki", "Yasashii Place" and "Senaka Kotoba" which is her graduation song.
2016 43 "Kimi wa Melody" A-side Marked as a 10th Anniversary single.

Albums with AKB48

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no3b

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Stage units

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Filmography

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Movies

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Year Title Role
2007 Densen Uta Ai-chan (愛ちゃん)
2011 Documentary of AKB48: To Be Continued Herself
2012 Documentary of AKB48: Show Must Go On
2013 Documentary of AKB48: No Flower Without Rain
2014 Documentary of AKB48: The Time Has Come
2015 Attack on Titan Scout Soldier

Dramas

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Year Title Role
2006 Densha Otoko Deluxe Herself
2008 Saito-san (斉藤さん) Kei Niimi
Men☆Dol: Ikemen Idol (メン☆ドル 〜イケメンアイドル〜) Nami/Kai
2010 Majisuka Gakuen Minami Ono
Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi (ほんとにあった怖い話 夏の特別編2010 AKB48まるごと浄霊スペシャル2) Herself
Sakura Kara no Tegami (桜からの手紙 〜AKB48 それぞれの卒業物語〜) Minami Takahashi
2011 Majisuka Gakuen 2 Female Investigator
2015 Majisuka Gakuen 4 Minami
Majisuka Gakuen 5
2016 AKB Horror Night: Adrenaline's Night (AKBホラーナイト アドレナリンの夜) Hitomi (Ep.25 – 8)

Video games

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Year Title Role
2019 Grimms Notes Hahn

Animation

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Year Title Role
2019 Beyblade Burst GT Ichika Kindō

Musicals

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Year Title Role
2009 AKB48 Kagekidan "Infinity" (AKB歌劇団「∞・Infinity」) MC

Solo Concerts

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Year Title !
2015 Takahashi Minami Mirai he Kekki Shuukai~ Subete no Koto no Zenya~
2016 Takahashi Minami 独立宣言 (Dokuritsu Sengen/ Declaration of Independence)
2016 Takahashi Minami PREMIUM SHOWCASE LIVE@COTTON CLUB
2016 Takahashi Minami "Aishi Te mo Ii Desu ka?" (愛してもいいですか?)
2016 Takahashi Minami 2016 New Year Eve Countdown Concert in Hachioji City, Tokyo
2017 Takahashi Minami 26th Birthday Live 2017 ❤ 199104080127❤ 26❤
2017 Takahashi Minami 2017 National Live House Tour – We will follow Takamina reborn

Solo Events

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Year Title Role
2016/04 Girls Award 2016 Spring/ Summer MC
2016/04 NHK Kayo Charity Project MC
2016/06 Huis Ten Bosch Music Fes Artist
2016/06 Cheeky eyes Travel vol.1 in Okinawa
2015/06 Leader DIVE! ~Supporting the people meeting the challenges of a new career Guest
2016/08 Ultra Teen Fes MC – Kore nani
2016/09 Rock Corps supported by JT Ambassador
2016/10 Girls Award 2016 Autumn/ Winter MC
2016/10 OTONOKO Artist
2016/12 Act Against AIDS (The Variety 24) Artist
2017/01 Governor Koike's 1st Tokyo Future Vision Roundtable Meeting Guest
2017/03 Laguana Music Fes. 2017 Artist
2017/04 Governor Koike's 2nd Tokyo Future Vision Roundtable Meeting Guest
2017/05 Governor Koike's 3rd Tokyo Future Vision Roundtable Meeting Guest
2017/06 Cheeky eyes Travel vol.2 in Kyoto Amanohashidate
2017/07 Shitte, Hepatitis Project (Save the Life 2017) Special Supporter
2017/08 Governor Koike's 4th Tokyo Future Vision Roundtable Meeting Guest
2017/09 Governor Koike's 5th Tokyo Future Vision Roundtable Meeting Guest
2017/09 Rock Corps supported by JT Ambassador & Artist
2017/10 Toyama College of University Festival LIVE Artist
2017/11 2017 LIVE FOR LIFE「音楽彩 Artist
2017/11 11th Asian International Children's Film Festival
2017/12 Griffin's 4th Junon produce Girl Contest MC

Radio

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Year Title Role
2009–2016 No Sleeves no Shukan No Sleeves (ノースリーブスの週刊ノースリー部) MC
2016 – Takahashi Minami no Kore Kara Nani Suru? (高橋みなみの『これから、何する?』) MC
2017 – Takahashi Minami and Asai Ryo Yobunnokoto (高橋みなみと朝井リョウ ヨブンのこと) MC

Television programs

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Year Title Role
2008 AKB 1ji 59fun! (AKB1じ59ふん!) Herself
2008 AKB 0ji 59fun! (AKB0じ59ふん!) Herself
2008–2016 AKBingo! Herself
2008–2010, 2014–2015 AKB48 Nemousu TV (AKB48ネ申テレビ) Herself
2009 Omoikkiri Don! 1155 (おもいッきりDON! 1155) Herself
2009–2010 Omoikkiri Pon! (おもいッきりPON!) Herself
2009–2012 Shūkan AKB (週刊AKB) Herself
2010–2011 Pon! no3b
2010 AKB600sec. Herself
2010– Mujack! Herself (MC)
2010–2016 AKB to ××! (AKBと××!) Herself
2011 Documentary of AKB48 – The future 1mm ahead Self (concurrently as a narrator)
2011–2014 Shin Dōmoto Kyōdai (新堂本兄弟) Herself
2012–2014 AKB Kousagi Dojo (AKB子兎道場) Herself
2012–2013 Snack Kissa Eden (スナック喫茶エデン) Herself (MC)
2013– Ijime wo Knock Out (いじめをノックアウト) Herself (MC)
2014–2018 Mirai Monster (ミライ☆モンスター) Herself (MC)
2016–2017 DAM Channel (DAMチャンネル) Herself (MC)
2016– Sekai no mura de hakken! Konna tokoro ni nihonjin (世界の村で発見!こんなところに日本人) Herself
2017–2018 Ichikara (金曜イチから) Herself (MC)

Other media

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Essays

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  • リーダー論 (22 December 2015, Kobunsha)

Photobooks

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  • B.L.T. U-17 summer (7 August 2008, Tokyo News Tsushinsha)
  • たかみな (22 September 2010, Kodansha)
  • 写りな、写りな (24 February 2016, Kobunsha)

Calendar

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  • たかみな日めくり 努力は必ず報われる (1 November 2016, PHP)

References

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  1. ^ "魅力PRへ「八王子応援団」 来年、多摩地区初の市制100周年". Archived from the original on 15 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Reformation of AKB48 in Tokyo Dome Concert" (in Japanese). 24 August 2012.
  3. ^ "AKB5400sec" by Nihon TV, July 2010
  4. ^ "Amazon.co.jp: 【iPad Mini(3D)ケース】女子アイドルグループ AKB48 高橋南 AKBの魂 たかみなちゃん カバー ソフトジャケット: 家電・カメラ". Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  5. ^ "高橋みなみ「努力は必ず報われるとは限らない。そんなのわかってます。でもね...」(AKB総選挙スピーチ全文)". ハフポスト (in Japanese). 6 June 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  6. ^ "峯岸みなみ卒業で注目したいノースリーブスの今後(THE PAGE)". Yahoo!ニュース.
  7. ^ "AKBINGO!" broadcast 7 July 2010 by Nihon TV
  8. ^ "AKB48公式サイト|team Aステージソング". AKB48 First Stage Songs and Members (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  9. ^ "AKB48公式サイト|ステージソング". AKB48 Stage Dates (in Japanese).
  10. ^ ドラマ24「メン★ドル~イケメンアイドル~」:テレビ東京【ノースリーブス初主演ドラマ!メンドル】. Men☆Dol (in Japanese).
  11. ^ "AKB48夢舞台初日に「再組閣」 宮澤&高城が"海外移籍"へ…波乱の幕開け". ORICON NEWS. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Ariyoshi AKB Kyōwakoku", broadcast 21 October 2010 by TBS Television
  13. ^ Ticket refund information of AKB48 Concert "Takamina ni tsuite ikimasu" (AKB48 コンサート「たかみなについて行きます」チケット払い戻しのご案内) AKB48 Official blog 18 March 2011 (in Japanese)
  14. ^ "Announcement of Takahashi Minami's Solo Debut" (in Japanese). 25 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Announcement of Solo Debut in Tokyo Dome Concert" (in Japanese). 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  16. ^ "Takahashi Minami to release her solo debut single + selected as opening theme song for upcoming drama 'Saki'". tokyohive.
  17. ^ "AKB48's Takahashi Minami to sing the theme song for "The Smurfs 2" Japan release". tokyohive.
  18. ^ "Idol Minami Takahashi to Graduate From AKB48". Anime News Network. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Announcement of Minami Takahashi to be Center on her final AKB48 single". Tokyo Girls Update. October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  20. ^ "AKB48 高橋みなみ卒業コンサート開幕 台北&バンコク&マニラ3つの海外姉妹グループ結成も発表". OkMusic. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  21. ^ "No Sleeves reunite at Takahashi Minami's 26th birthday live". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  22. ^ "TOKYO FM hosts Takahashi Minami's radio show". Neotokyo2099. 22 August 2019.
  23. ^ "Ex-AKB48 Leader Takahashi Minami announces Marriage – 48/46 J-POP & Showbiz News". jshowbiz.com. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  24. ^ a b c "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  25. ^ a b "Hot 100|JAPAN Charts|Billboard JAPAN". Billboard (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 19 February 2014.
  26. ^ 愛してもいいですか?(初回限定盤) (in Japanese). Oricon News. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  27. ^ Center and A-side lineup information provided by "AKB48 歴代シングル選抜メンバー(2006年~2013年)" [(2006–2013) AKB48 successive single member selection]. entamedata.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  28. ^ "AKB48、じゃんけん選抜シングルは「チャンスの順番」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  29. ^ "AKB48 :AKB48 :じゃんけん大会を再び開催 9月に武道館で SKE48、NMB48ら総勢71人参加". Mainichi Shimbun Digital Co., Ltd. (in Japanese). MANTANWEB. 3 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  30. ^ "AKB48's second "Rock, Paper, Scissors" Tournament confirmed". Tokyohive.com. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  31. ^ "[Completed] AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu General Election results!". 8 June 2013. Tokyohive. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  32. ^ "AKB48柏木由紀&小嶋陽菜Wセンターの新曲発表&披露 高橋みなみ&山本彩はラップも". Modelpress (in Japanese). 25 January 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
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